Cassell: Game 1 | Game 2

CONWAY, Ark. - Hendrix swept its first two games of the Warrior Spring Fling on Friday at Warrior Softball Field, defeating Centenary (La.), 7-6, and Westminster (Mo.), 11-3 in five innings.

In game one, a Kinsey Bryant RBI double in the bottom of the first inning gave the Warriors a 1-0 lead.

Hendrix trailed 2-1 in the third before plating three. An Avery Colclaser RBI double was followed by a Bryant two-run double.

Centenary (1-2) tied the game at four in the top of the sixth after a Mackenzie Cox two-run double, but the Warriors answered with a Kelsey Sample two-run double in the bottom of the frame.

A Kaitlyn Dickey sacrifice fly and Brooke Sandefur RBI single in the top of the seventh knotted the affair at six, but Hendrix loaded the bases in the home half of the inning, and a Kendyl Patton line drive deflected off Anna Scarbock and through the left side for a walk-off single, ending the Warriors' three-game skid in the series and giving Mark Suire a win against his former squad.

Sample was 3-for-3 at the plate with two RBIs. Hendrix's 2-6 batters in the lineup - Hailey Johnston, Bryant, Aubrey Lee, Grace Bryant and Patton - each had two hits, as the Warriors totaled 15, including seven doubles. K. Bryant drove in three. Johnston scored three times.

Sample started in the circle but took a no decision, pitching five innings, giving up four earned runs on eight hits with two strikeouts and a pair of walks. Johnston (1-0) earned the win with two-thirds of an inning of one-hit relief.

Cox, Viviana Rivero and Alyssa Akers each had two hits. Cox had two RBIs. Mallory Stout crossed home twice.

The Ladies' Ashley Hunter made the start in the circle but got a no decision, allowing four earned runs on six hits with a strikeout and walk in just 2.1 innings. Scarbock (0-2) was tagged with the loss after throwing four innings of relief and surrendering three earned runs on nine hits.

In game two, Hendrix (5-1) put up a four-spot in the bottom of the second inning and sent the fans home early with seven in the fifth.

In the second, the Warriors' Savannah Shaw and Peyton Nance each had RBI singles to tie the game at two. Betty Wolfe drove in a run on a fielder's choice, and Colclaser delivered a sacrifice fly.

Leading 4-3 with one out in the fifth, eight-straight Hendrix batters reached base safely. With the bases loaded, Shaw induced a RBI walk before a Nance three-run double made the score 8-3. A Sample RBI double and Kendal Rainey two-run double gave Hendrix its third-consecutive triumph, all at home, and sixth win in the last eight meetings against the Blue Jays.

Lee and Nance each batted 2-for-2, as the Warriors totaled 11 hits, including four doubles. Nance drove in four. Hendrix's 4-7 hitters - Lee, G. Bryant, Patton and Shaw - each scored two runs. The Warriors drew six walks.

Johnston (2-0) earned the win in the circle, tossing a complete game, allowing three runs, two earned, on five hits with five strikeouts and a walk.

Five Westminster (0-1) players each had one hit. 

Erin Carr (0-1) was tagged with the loss after pitching 4.1 innings, giving up eight earned runs on seven hits with a strikeout and six walks. Andee Raysik did not record an out and allowed three earned runs on four hits with a wild pitch.

The Warrior Spring Fling concludes Sunday, as Hendrix hosts the Blue Jays at 1:30 p.m. CT and the Ladies at 4 p.m.